it is a good song. the intro is killer.

Blitz-marketed Kingdom shows Jay-Z's still got it

 

In Kingdom Come, the 1996 DC Comics series, an ageing Superman, coaxed out of retirement by Wonder Woman, swoops down to once again save the world.

 

On his CD Kingdom Come, Jay-Z ends a three-year retirement from full-time rapping - during which he has served as CEO of the hip-hop record label Def Jam - to attempt a similarly grandiose comeback. And to some degree, he succeeds.

 

With his own wonder woman (girlfriend Beyonce Knowles) and a veritable Justice League of assistants (including Usher, Chris Martin of Coldplay, and producers Dr. Dre and Kanye West), Kingdom Come finds the 36-year-old former drug dealer born Shawn Carter aiming not only to rescue rap, but also to give the music industry a desperately needed shot in the arm.

 

On the album's title track, in which producer Just Blaze subtly employs a snippet of Rick James' oft-sampled Superfreak, Hov - it rhymes with Rove, and derives from biblical superhero Jehovah - tells his story, in one of the album's niftier, intricately turned rhyme sequences.

 

"Selling blow in the park, this is now in my heart/Now I'm so enlightened, I might glow in the dark," he raps. "I been up in the office, you might know him as Clark/Just when you thought the whole world fell apart/I take off the blazer, loosen up the tie/Step inside the booth: Superman is alive."

 

The theme of the returning hero has been hard to miss in this fall's ubiquitous-during-sporting-events television commercial for Budweiser Select and Kingdom Come. The spot showcases Show Me What You Got, the album's breezy first single, which samples Public Enemy. In it, Jigga compares himself to another class act who once triumphantly unretired, calling himself "the Mike Jordan of recording".

 

The music business' collective hope is that, aided by a promotional onslaught that included a coast-to-coast marketing blitz last weekend, Kingdom Come will be the disc to bring buyers back into record stores this season.

 

But for all of its blockbuster swagger, the album turns out to be introspective and vulnerable for a big-time rapper, and as much about "the maturation of Jayzeezy" and what it's like to be a grown-up hip-hop star who's willing to own up to self-doubt.

 

Not that Jay-Z doesn't sound supremely confident. Starting with The Prelude he accurately presents himself as a dependable source of quality who gets over on what he has to say, and how he says it, rather than any secondary shenanigans.

 

"Your hooks did it, your lyrics didn't, your gangsta looks did it," he raps, taunting an unnamed challenger to his throne. (Though it must be said that Jigga has benefited from his share of silly hooks, like the sped-up clip from Annie that fuelled his 1998 mainstream breakthrough, Hard Knock Life.)

 

But in music as in basketball, a superstar doesn't get by without a supporting cast. And so a return to cutthroat, chart-climbing competition requires a Who's Who of hitmakers. They include Usher on the Neptunes-produced Anything, John Legend singing a soulful hook on the male bonding Do U Wanna Ride, and lesser-known DJ Khalil hooking up the old-school backdrop for the obligatory tribute to Mom, I Made It.

 

Dre's three productions include the slinky piano groove Lost One, which mourns the loss of a nephew killed in a car crash, and worries over relationship troubles with Knowles ("I don't think it's meant to be, B"). Things seem less dire for the celebrity couple when Knowles turns up on the cautionary tale Hollywood, in which the rapper surveys the pitfalls of fame.

 

"Now you've become what you once despised," he raps, in a serious note to himself, and adds, "When your friends is Chris and Gwyneth/And your girlfriend is more famous than you/then it's time to get your windows tinted."

 

Another standout Dre track is Minority Report, an indictment of the Bush administration's response to Hurricane Katrina. It samples both NBC news anchor Brian Williams and West's remark, "George Bush doesn't care about black people," in a way that's typical Jay-Z, in that it's essentially cautious: It's a little late to come to the Bush-bashing party over Katrina, isn't it?

 

But the CEO's politicisation is clearly ongoing - he has spoken up about the water crisis in Africa and stamping out anti-Semitism, and on the title track he comments on his call for a boycott of Cristal. "There's bigger issues in the world I know/But first I had to take care of the world I know."

 

The rapper redeems Minority Report, which is sweetened by a sorrowful cameo from Ne-Yo, by copping to his own guilt: "Silly rappers 'cause we got a couple of Porsches, and MTV stop by to film our fortresses ... sure, I ponied up a mil, but I didn't give my time/So in reality I didn't give a dime."

 

Kingdom Come is by no means a great album. There's not a track as ridiculously catchy as Izzo (H.O.V.A). And the disc takes occasional missteps, egregiously on Dig a Hole, the obligatory I-will-destroy-my-enemies track whose Swizz Beatz production desperately mimics the raucous Southern crunk sound. The closing Beach Chair, produced by Coldplay's Martin, is a soul-searching experiment whose echoing keyboards and philosophical lyrics don't quite mesh.

 

So it seems that, unlike Superman, Jay-Z will not succeed in saving the world. Still, the rapper remains a consummate craftsman, and his return to action shows that his status as "kingpin of the ink pen," as he dubs himself, remains intact. While Kingdom Come is not spectacular, it is reassuring, because it shows that in Shawn Carter's case at least, the man in charge really knows how to do his job.

 

http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/23/music/20061123081801&sec=music

He mentions Chris and Gwyn in a song??? hm...

`Kingdom' fit for a man

 

If Jay-Z hadn't ``retired'' in 2003, his new album, Kingdom Come, would sound like a perfectly serviceable follow-up to his acclaimed The Black Album.

 

But because he has made such a multimedia spectacle of his ``comeback,'' it's hard not to be a little disappointed in the mere mortal nature of Kingdom Come.

 

Fascinating but uneven, the 14-track, hourlong effort reveals that Shawn Carter has been contemplating more than quarterly reports as president of Def Jam. He's been thinking about himself and his skills, of course -- he is a rapper -- but also about love, fame and maturation. And in places this fully grown persona pays off in the sonic chances he's willing to take, even when they don't succeed.

 

Jay-Z is intriguingly low-key throughout much of the album. Tempos vary only occasionally from a medium-cool range, regardless of which producer -- Dr. Dre, Just Blaze, et al. -- is behind the board.

 

But the jarring female screams, clattering drums and string samples of Oh My God underscore rhymes that remind all comers of Jay-Z's lengthy reign. As he succinctly puts it, ``When you're 10 years in, holla back then.''

 

Elsewhere, Jay's broodiness about his place in the world translates into a faint desperation that doesn't suit his persona or the quality of the work on display.

 

For instance, 30 Something is chock-full of nimble lyrical riffs on the benefits and wisdom that accrue with age, but the cumulative effect is of a man protesting too much about how ``30's the new 20.'' Few entertainers have less need to prove that 36 isn't old than the man who has never (yet) been knocked from his perch.

 

Hollywood, Lost One and Minority Report are among the strong tracks here -- by turns hooky, jazzy and ruminative -- but others fall short of their mark. Anything, featuring Usher and Pharrell, neither requires nor particularly highlights the gifts of either guest. And album closer Beach Chair is an odd grafting of Coldplay's grand atmospheres (Chris Martin sings and co-wrote the track) onto a woozy Jay-Z rap. It ends the album with a spacey question mark.

 

``I'm hip-hop's savior, so after this flow you might owe me a favor,'' Jay-Z raps on the title track. While we're grateful to have him back, he shouldn't count on cashing in any IOUs this time around.

 

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/entertainment/16082472.htm

Jay-Z's 'Kingdom' lacks magic

 

 

If Jay-Z hadn't "retired" in 2003, his new album, "Kingdom Come," would sound like a serviceable follow-up to his acclaimed "The Black Album."

 

But because he has made such a multimedia spectacle of his "comeback," it's hard not to be a little disappointed in the mere mortal nature of "Kingdom Come."

 

Fascinating but uneven, the 14-track, hourlong effort reveals that Shawn Carter has been contemplating more than quarterly reports as president of Def Jam. He's been thinking about himself and his skills, of course -- he is a rapper -- but also about love, fame and maturation. And in places, this fully grown persona pays off in the sonic chances he's willing to take, even when they don't fully succeed.

Jay-Z is intriguingly low-key throughout much of the album. Tempos vary only occasionally from a medium-cool range. Jay's broodiness about his place in the world translates into a faint desperation that doesn't suit his persona or the actual quality of the work on display.

 

For instance, "30 Something" is chock-full of nimble lyrical riffs on the benefits and wisdom that accrue with age, but the cumulative effect is of a man protesting too much about how "30's the new 20."

 

"Anything," featuring Usher and Pharrell, neither requires nor particularly highlights either guest's gifts. And closer "Beach Chair" is an odd grafting of Coldplay's grand atmospheres (Chris Martin sings and co-wrote the track) onto a woozy Jay-Z rap. It ends the album with a spacey question mark.

"I'm hip-hop's savior, so after this flow you might owe me a favor," Jay-Z raps on the title track. While we're grateful to have him back, he shouldn't count on cashing in any IOUs this time around.

 

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061126/ENTERTAINMENT04/611260346/-1/ZONES04

Jay-Z: wiser but not better

 

In 2003 Jay-Z announced that he was officially retiring from recording any more albums. Like any true “player” he went out on top with the outstanding Black Album and one incredible fair well tour. Jay-Z peeked and left his fans with the finest album of his career. A few years into his retirement Jay-Z, at 37, realized he still had a lot to say and wasn’t about to let his words of wisdom be swept under the rug. After dusting off his microphone, Jay-Z came back with his latest album, “Kingdom Come.”

 

A majority of the tracks on “Kingdom Come” are of Jay-Z embracing his new mature age. It’s not quite as energetic as previous albums, yet Jay-Z still delivers passion. “30 Something” explains how Jay-Z is all grown up, simply stating “I’m young enough to know which car to buy, yet grown enough not to put rims on it.” He even sings about having good credit. With the uninspiring catchphrase “30’s the new 20,” it seems like Jay-Z is ashamed of his past.

 

With “Lost One” Jay-Z steps out of his boundaries by slowing it down and adding brilliant vocals by Chrisette Michele, on which Jay-Z raps about the realities of life and the risk of fame. Of course there had to be a song featuring Jay-Z’s partner in crime Beyonce, but “Hollywood” is poppy, stereotypical and a little too planned out. The strangest surprise on “Kingdom Come” is the collaboration with Coldplay’s Chris Martin in “Beach Chair.” Two completely different genres seem to work out a creative, emotional conclusion to the album.

 

It’s pretty clear Jay-Z loves hip-hop but he doesn’t seem to be a fan of those who are involved in it. For some fans, it’s that high-energy hasty spirit that makes people love him. Lyrically, Jay-Z hasn’t lost his ability to rap, but he spends too much time on tired, worn out punch lines. The reality is that “Kingdom Come” is not the album that fans expected. They expected more. But though the album doesn’t reach the heights of previous albums, it’s exciting and proves that Jay-Z still has something to say.

 

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/entertainment/16227775.htm

Beyonce and Jay are on overdrive trying to nix the breakup rumors. They were spotted at 2 restaurants this weekend in the NYC--and they were out to dinner with Jay's new best friend Chris Martin of Coldplay and his wife Gwyneth Paltrow for the first pics:

 

http://blogs.sohh.com/ya_heard/2007/03/joe_crack_lives.html

well, coldplay looks nice and good without this rap flavour

with its own rock and guitars or chris' lyrics..

but i just hate it when they mix with rap sounds..

BEYONCE TREATS JAY-Z TO ROMANTIC MEXICAN GETAWAY

 

 

BEYONCE KNOWLES treated boyfriend JAY-Z to a romantic Mexican getaway after reports suggested their romance is in trouble.

 

Amid reports the pair is on the verge of splitting, the sexy singer took the hip hop mogul to Punta de Mita, Mexico, where she booked into an exclusive $11,000 (GBP5,640)-a-night villa.

 

And there was a further surprise in store for Jay-Z, real name SHAWN CARTER Beyonce whisked him off to see his favourite group COLDPLAY in concert in Mexico City (03MAR07).

 

Fellow holiday-makers claim Beyonce and Jay-Z looked happier than ever: "They were constantly hugging, smiling and looking very in love. They laid low in the villa, swam in the pool and hung out on the beach."

 

http://www.pr-inside.com/beyonce-treats-jay-z-to-romantic-mexican-r68399.htm

Beyonce Takes Jay to the Beach

 

 

After dating for four years, how do you spice things up? Well, if you’re rich, one way to turn up the heat is to whisk your lover away on a trip to Mexico- especially if he happens to be Jay Z, the retired/not retired king of hip hop.

 

Beyonce Knowles gave Jay Z the hook up, taking him to Mexico for a romantic getaway this past week. Amid rumors that they were coming to an end, Miss Knowles proved naysayers wrong with a hot Mexican holiday. The two have been sweethearts for four years.

 

The trip included a stay at the $11,000 a night villa in Punta de Mita. Knowles and Jay Z also attended a concert by friend Chris Martin and Coldplay in Mexico City.

 

Vacationers who were staying nearby told US gossip reporters: “They were constantly hugging, smiling and looking very in love. They laid low in the villa, swam in the pool and hung out on the beach.”

 

Sometimes a girl’s gotta take some initiative and take care of her man.

 

http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/beyonce-takes-jay-to-the-beach-200355/

Jay-Z Regrets Kingdom Come, Corrects Kanye

 

 

In an Interview with Rolling Stones magazine, Def jam President Jay-Z lets loose on how he really feels about "Kingdom Come", Don Imus, Mims, the industry and Kanye West.

 

While talking about what keeps him motivated to continue to rap, Hov discussed his feelings on the current state of hip-hop.

 

"I don't think people process music the same way [we used to]," He said. "Before, we used to listen to lyrics and then find out if the beat was hot later and then did the Wop." he called out a line from MIMS's "This is Why I'm Hot". "When a guy says ‘I could make a million saying nothing' on a track, you know you've reached a bad place," he said. "It's way past salvaging. I'm going the other way. That's why [my album] is the way it is."

 

For "American Gangsta" Jay used personal memories he hadn't gone back to in a while. He reflected on his early life when he was living in Brooklyn's Marcy Projects, saying, "The things that we have to see in one day, a lot of people never see in their life. People could live their whole life and never see a crack vial or a dope needle or a shootout. When I saw my first person get shot, I was nine years old", "It's typical to see people get shot before you're ten. That has to have some type of effect on you." He added, "People act this way for a reason: hope. You start looking around the neighborhood and there's no role models to look up to. You got the worst schools, the worst roads, the worst of everything. To see the straight way to get out of that, it's so far away that you start losing hope."

 

During the interview Jay tried to defend his music by saying; "I try to tell both sides of the story," he said, reciting lyrics from "Dead Presidents" ("Hit with the RICO, they repo your vehicle/Everything was all good just a week ago"). "There's pitfalls: you might go to jail, you might get shot, your brother might die, and your neighbor's mother just sold her crack and she's messed up. And you're messing up the community. You gotta deal with that."

 

While discussing one of the tracks from the new album "Ignorant Shit," a track that deals with censorship and calls out Don Imus, Jigga let loose on the radio host and the controversy about hip-hop lyrics that was stirred by his firing. "Imus is a racist," Hov declared. "He's not a person that listens to rap or was influenced by rap, so the two things don't have anything to do with each other, so fuck him."

 

He also spoke on the big marketing push that preceded his last album, Kingdom Come which saw him collaborating with everyone from Budweiser to NASCAR. "People talk about the marketing plan as if I spent some money. I've been watching this for a year - ‘the marketing plan was $30 million' - I didn't pay them, they paid me," he said. "I didn't pay Budweiser, I didn't pay TNT, I didn't pay HP, they all paid me. Looking back, I guess it was a little extravagant. Then I shut it down, as the president. Shot two videos and walked away from it. I did the right thing." He also suggested some regrets about Kingdom: "Maybe it was too sophisticated. Maybe I fucked up."

 

Jay also showed some regret at his repeated declarations of "retirements" and promised not to make any more promises. "I was watching Fade to Black on VH1, and I was cringing, because I kept saying, ‘It may be the last album' - I've made two albums already!" he says, laughing. "When I put The Black Album out, I said I wasn't going to say that anymore. I just stopped talking. Nobody believes it. Not even you."

 

Since graduation was such a huge success and Kanye West has been a hot topic, Jay spoke about his little brother. he stated that he loved Kanye's Jigga tribute "Big Brother," but light-heartedly corrected ‘Ye's version of what happened specifically that Hov made him buy tickets to a show at Madison Square Garden and that Jay stole West's idea to record with Coldplay.

 

"Not everything on the song was true, but it was true in his mind," said Jay. "He says ‘Carleen said I could buy two tickets.' You would think he didn't get any tickets. I gave him four, he wanted six. It was a charity event! And Coldplay - I introduced him to Coldplay, I gave him the number! But I thought it was a brilliant song. It brought us closer together."

 

http://www.hiphop-elements.com/article/read/4/7467/1/

can someone plz re post the video from the Albert HAll? the one wih Gwyneth, Cris & JZ

can someone plz re post the video from the Albert HAll? the one wih Gwyneth, Cris & JZ

 

Yes, yes! In quicktime or wmv NOT rar pleeeeease!

Yes i really want to see those videos!!!!

most interesting thread :)

 

think they'll have a full-on collaborative effort for LP5?